Ann Scales, Former UNM Law Professor, Succumbs to Injuries

Ann Scales, a longtime professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law before joining the law faculty at the University of Denver, died on June 24 at a Denver hospice, more than a week after suffering brain trauma in a fall at her home. She was 60.

Scales was among the founders of the field of feminist legal theory and remained a leader in the area throughout her career. She earned her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she founded the Harvard Women’s Law Journal. She arrived at the UNM School of Law in 1980 after practicing with an all-female law firm in Los Angeles. That firm funded its race and sex discrimination cases by accepting divorce cases of Hollywood stars.

At UNM, Scales taught constitutional law, jurisprudence, products liability, torts and sex discrimination law. She brought vibrancy to the classroom, believing that law school was an exciting time. “I believe that education is not something that has to be endured; it’s the best time in your life. So I try to participate in that by making it a happy, singing, dancing time – in my products liability class!” she said during a 2010 visit to Wake Forest University School of Law.

Through the years she continued representing clients, never asking for a fee. While still at UNM, she argued a case in which the New Mexico Supreme Court became the first high court of any state to hold that abortion funding is required by women’s interest in equality. She left the UNM law faculty in 1998.

For those who wish to remember Professor Scales, contributions can be made to the Ann Scales Memorial Student Support Fund, which, depending on the level of support received, will be used either to create a new scholarship endowment or to support student activities at the School of Law which are related in some way to Ann's life and work.

Contributions may be made and sent to the University of New Mexico School of Law, MSC11 6070, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001.

Give online at: https://www.unmfund.org/online-giving/law
Select the School of Law from the list of primary colleges/programs and then click OTHER and enter ANN SCALES MEMORIAL in the fund line. Please note that all charitable contributions are processed for the School of Law by the UNM Foundation, and are always placed directly with the School of Law.

Give by mail: Please complete and return the pledge form indicating ANN SCALES MEMORIAL in the IN SUPPORT OF line.Give by phone: 505-277-8184